You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
In plain words
You cannot choose what happens, but you can choose what you think about it.
Where these words come from
- 40% sureLots of sources credit Marcus Aurelius with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
- Popular modern paraphrase of Meditations VIII.47 (trans. George Long, 1862): "it is not this thing that disturbs thee, but thy own judgement about it." Condensed wording is not Long's or any primary translation — paraphrase class, stays likely.
More from Marcus Aurelius
See allWaste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.
Marcus AureliusNever let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.Marcus AureliusWe are made for co-operation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, like the rows of the upper and lower teeth.Marcus AureliusThe best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong doer.Marcus AureliusGive thyself time to learn something new and good, and cease to be whirled around.Marcus AureliusMen exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then, or bear with them.Marcus Aurelius
Marcus AureliusNever let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.Marcus AureliusWe are made for co-operation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, like the rows of the upper and lower teeth.Marcus AureliusThe best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong doer.Marcus AureliusGive thyself time to learn something new and good, and cease to be whirled around.Marcus AureliusMen exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then, or bear with them.Marcus AureliusMore on wisdom
Disinterestedness, as shown in indifference to the ordinary bribes and influences of conduct,—a purpose so sincere and generous that it cannot be tempted aside by any prospects of wealth or other private advantage.
Ralph Waldo EmersonSelf-love is, in almost all men, such an overweight, that they are incredulous of a man’s habitual preference of the general good to his own; but when they see it proved by sacrifices of ease, wealth, rank, and of life itself, there is no limit to their admiration.Ralph Waldo EmersonSelf-sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all the reported miracles grew.Ralph Waldo EmersonThe third excellence is courage, the perfect will, which no terrors can shake, which is attracted by frowns or threats or hostile armies, nay, needs these to awake and fan its reserved energies into a pure flame, and is never quite itself until the hazard is extreme; then it is serene and fertile, and all its powers play well.Ralph Waldo EmersonAnimal resistance, the instinct of the male animal when cornered, is no doubt common; but the pure article, courage with eyes, courage with conduct, self-possession at the cannon’s mouth, cheerfulness in lonely adherence to the right, is the endowment of elevated characters.Ralph Waldo EmersonAnd any man who puts his life in peril in a cause which is esteemed becomes the darling of all men.Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo EmersonSelf-love is, in almost all men, such an overweight, that they are incredulous of a man’s habitual preference of the general good to his own; but when they see it proved by sacrifices of ease, wealth, rank, and of life itself, there is no limit to their admiration.Ralph Waldo EmersonSelf-sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all the reported miracles grew.Ralph Waldo EmersonThe third excellence is courage, the perfect will, which no terrors can shake, which is attracted by frowns or threats or hostile armies, nay, needs these to awake and fan its reserved energies into a pure flame, and is never quite itself until the hazard is extreme; then it is serene and fertile, and all its powers play well.Ralph Waldo EmersonAnimal resistance, the instinct of the male animal when cornered, is no doubt common; but the pure article, courage with eyes, courage with conduct, self-possession at the cannon’s mouth, cheerfulness in lonely adherence to the right, is the endowment of elevated characters.Ralph Waldo EmersonAnd any man who puts his life in peril in a cause which is esteemed becomes the darling of all men.Ralph Waldo Emerson